cases from tanzania - Sustainet

3 Cases from Tanzania
further expansion planned
In 2004, the first expansion step was completed, and another 150 farmers from Ihanda and
Nkwenda were contracted to supply pineapples to Matunda Mema. As the market for dried
organic fruits in Germany is doing well, in 2004 the firm decided to extend its business to
four other wards in Karagwe (Kihanga, Karaizo, Iteera and Chabalisa), and in 2005, it signed
contracts with 100 new farmers, making 300 in all. Another 50 farmers were hoping to sign
contracts in the near future.
In 2005, the marketing of other dried fruit – sweet bananas and papayas – was introduced. In
2006, the firm is planning to expand its business further and to diversify into fresh fruits, garlic,
lemongrass, jackfruit, coffee and cooking bananas, all produced by the organic farmers.
Benefits
The farmers of Ihanda and Nkwenda have boosted their yields significantly as a result of
their training in sustainable agriculture. Mrs Bitakwate is a typical example. Before the project,
she grew bananas and beans. In a normal season she could harvest a sack of beans, worth
about TSh 18,000 (€12) from her 0.4 ha of land. By applying grass mulch and compost, she
is now able to harvest three bags, worth about TSh 50,000 (€33). A bunch of bananas used
to weigh 15 kg; they now weigh 55 kg a bunch. A widow, Mrs Bitakwate has managed to
educate her children, who now work as organic farming extension officers in Ihanda.
In 1997, before the project began, the average pineapple grown in the area weighed 0.5 kg
and fetched TSh 40 (€0.03) in the local market. Now, one fruit weighs 4 kg and sells there
for TSh 200 (€0.13).
Food supplies in the area have improved, especially during the former hungry season. The
period of food shortage has fallen from 4 to 2 months.
With proper crop management, it is possible to harvest the pineapples throughout the year.
One stem can produce two fruits a year. Contract farmers who sell their fruit directly to Matunda
Mema get a fixed price of TSh 250 (€0.16) per piece. They have no transport costs, no
risk of not being able to sell the fruit, and lose no time for marketing. That makes contract
farming very attractive for the farmers.
The average pineapple farmer grows about 500 pineapple stems on a quarter acre (0.1 ha),
bringing in about TSh 200,000 (€130) per year. Larger-scale farmers earn up to TSh 1,000,000
(€650) a year. The biggest farmer grows up to 12,000 stems on 3 acres (1.2 ha).
lessons
Limited markets Prices for agricultural products on the local market are low, and farmers
have to decide whether the extra work needed for sustainable or organic production is
worth it. Unlike local markets, foreign markets offer premium prices for organically grown
produce. But accessing the export market is very difficult for smallholders without outside
support. Improved access to higher-value markets would motivate many more farmers to
invest work in sustainable agriculture.
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